The family as a social institution is found in which of the following?

Introduction / Context:
Sociology studies social institutions, which are organised patterns of beliefs and behaviour that meet basic social needs. The family, as an institution, plays a central role in socialisation, care, and emotional support. Some institutions vary greatly from one culture to another, but the family is often described as a cultural universal. This question checks whether you understand how widely the family as a social institution is found across human societies.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The subject is the family as a social institution.
The options range from every society to only half of societies or mostly high income societies.
We assume the sociological definition of family, which can include different structures such as nuclear, joint, extended, and other forms.

Concept / Approach:
In sociology, some features of social life are considered cultural universals, meaning they appear in all known human societies, although their specific forms may differ. The family is widely recognised as one of these universals. While family structure and marriage customs vary, every society has a system of family relationships that organises reproduction, child rearing, and kinship. Therefore, the correct answer is that the family is found in every society, not just in high income societies or most societies.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the family is described in sociology as a fundamental social institution. Step 2: Think about the idea of cultural universals, which include institutions like family, religion, and language. Step 3: Note that even though forms of family life differ, some kind of family arrangement exists everywhere. Step 4: Compare this understanding with the options, paying attention to the word every in option A. Step 5: Select every society as the correct option, since the family exists in all known human communities.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by considering different types of societies, from hunter gatherer tribes to modern urban nations. In each case, there is some recognised unit that handles reproduction, child care, and kinship ties, even if it is not called a nuclear family. Anthropological studies consistently report variations in family form but not the absence of family as a concept. This strongly supports the statement that the family is present in every society rather than just in some or only in high income countries.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
high income nations but not in most low income nations: This is incorrect because families clearly exist in low income societies as well, often with strong kinship networks. most but not all societies: This implies that some societies lack families altogether, which contradicts anthropological evidence. about half of human societies: Far too low a figure and ignores the universal presence of family structures.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students interpret family too narrowly, thinking only of the modern nuclear family and then reasoning that not all societies have that exact structure. This can lead them to choose most societies instead of every society. Others may be misled by economic categories, imagining that social institutions like family must differ sharply between rich and poor nations. To avoid such errors, focus on the functional role of the family rather than its specific form. Once you do that, it becomes clear that every society has some family institution.

Final Answer:
The family as a social institution is found in every society.